Test drive BMW X5 E53 2000 - 2003 SUV

Golden youth

The solid BMW X5, which once became the first sports and active car (SAV class), appeared a younger brother - BMW X3. The best qualities of his eminent relative, designers adapted to a lighter weight category.
 
X-third is the first and so far the only representative of the premium segment in his class. The mission is honorable, but also responsible. Suppose that with the image of the elite SUV, everything is in order, the price is also impressive - over 50 thousand dollars. But does the car correspond to the declared status?
 
It is necessary to immediately emphasize: X3, like the older brother, is not an all -terrain vehicle. Its habitat, determined by the creators, is the road. But their coating does not matter. Basically, thanks to the XDRive - a new intellectual system of all -wheel drive. It provides good traction in difficult conditions, as well as, thanks to the flexible distribution of the moment between the wheels, significantly increases the dynamics and safety of movement. If ordinary 4x4 systems come to life when slipping, then XDRive, analyzing the style of the sitting at the wheel, anticipates the dangerous situation and gives the machine the command to stand on his feet stronger.
 
The key element of the XDRive is a multi -disc electronic control coupling, which is located in a handout and can send traction from the rear axle to the front for milliseconds. When accelerating under ordinary conditions (up to a speed of 20 km/h) the coupling closes, which ensures the maximum traction force. Then, depending on the nature of the movement, Xdrive smoothly distributes the torque between the axes.
 
After 180 km/h, BMW X3 becomes rear -wheel drive. Equipped with a gasoline row 6-cylinder engine of three liters (there are also versions of 2.5i and 3.0d), the car accelerates to one hundred kilometers per hour in some 8 seconds. Moreover, we are talking about a version with an option of a five -speed automatic transmission (in the database X3 it is equipped with six -speed mechanics). Envious acceptance allows you to forget about the slowness of automatic machines with less powerful engines, and the smooth operation of the transmission during switching is to recall sled comfort.
 
On the highway, the BMW X3 was just good, and on a winding mountain road he shook in all its glory. According to a plague serpentine, where the speed of ordinary cars did not exceed 50 km/h, the car was easily doubled. Ideal behavior in Slalom is the merit of the same XDRive. When in the turns there is a threat of demolition of the back of the machine, the smart system closes the jaw of the coupling, thereby sending the torque forward and, accordingly, stabilizing the position of the body in space.
 
If the reserves of the XDRive are exhausted, DSC comes to the rescue. When the front axis is demolished, the relocation of the thrust (up to 100%) occurs in the opposite direction - to the rear axle, and the complete closure or opening of the coupling is performed in just 0.1 seconds.
 
An additional advantage of X3 when passing turns is a low center of gravity obtained by introducing non -trivial design solution: the drive of the right front wheel on X3, as well as on X5, passes through the engine crankcase. At the same time, the road clearance of the car is 201 mm, which allows you to not be too careful when driving on rocky roads.
 
In a mountainous area, a trump card is a system of control from steep slopes - HDS: it makes it possible to confidently move along slippery slopes in automatic mode. The inclusion of HDS is permissible at speeds up to 35 km/h, after which x3 independently reduces the pace to 8 km/h and holds it constant. The buttons on the steering wheel can change the speed of the descent within 6-25 km/h. After a set of 60 km/h, HDS is automatically turned off. When the descent is breathtaking from the steepness, the dignity of this system is difficult to overestimate.
 
Fully in line with his credo, X3 flatly refused to take increased obligations. The experiment on a small sandy rise that simulates off -road ended in deplorable: the car had to be pushed out by hand.
 
Harsh of X3 showed itself from the best side. Elasticity, unpretentiousness to the road surface, absolute impenetration on bumps - these are its characteristics. The brakes, in addition to grasping and information content, are characterized by a high degree of performance: even after a 30-kilometer descent along the mountain serpentine, the red-hot brake mechanisms effectively extinguished the speed.
 
It seems small, BMW x3 is actually not so small. The length is somewhere between the tribesmen of the third and fifth episodes, in height significantly exceeds them, and in the wheelbase it is not far from x5.
 
Despite the external compactness of the car, its salon is very spacious. The devices are perfect, the seats are comfortable.
 
A typical interior elegance for BMW is complemented by the practicality of the layout. Due to the high landing, the front and lateral review is not limited, but the rear is clearly insufficient. Another remark applies to stylish thresholds: in inclement weather, getting out of the car without burying trousers, it will not be possible.
 
The open room of the gallery is due to a significant volume of the luggage compartment with a folded rear seat (even x5 is superior to the distance from its pillow to the ceiling). Three bicycles and a bunch of all sorts of things will calmly fit here. Numerous compartments and niches emphasize the functionality of X3.
 
At the same time, extensive standard equipment allows you to enjoy the trip by this car. For those who need maximum comfort, a wide list of options is provided, for example, a panoramic hatch in the entire roof or rotary bixenon headlights.
 
In the external design of X3, like that of his older brother, energetic muscular forms prevail. Despite individual elements such as original nostrils, lighting equipment or bending rear side windows, the car is instantly identified as BMW. By the way, the novelty has an excellent aerodynamic resistance coefficient - 0.35, which positively affects the noise level and fuel consumption at high speeds.
 
It turns out that the BMW X3 has good chances to ensure that, like X5, to take its own market niche and become a favorite of golden youth.
 
Text: Igor Kuznetsov
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [12/2003]